Mom Charged After Gun Goes Off In Son's Backpack, Injuring Boy: CPD

CHICAGO — The mother of a second-grade student at Chicago's Walt Disney Magnet School faces misdemeanor charges for endangering a child after police said the boy brought a gun to school and it accidentally discharged, injuring another student.

Tatanina Kelly, 28, faces three criminal counts and was ordered held on a $10,000 bond by a judge on Wednesday, police said. Kelly's son found his mother's gun, placed it in a backpack, and brought it to the school in Chicago’s Buena Park neighborhood, police said. Kelly is next scheduled to appear in court on May 24.

A bullet grazed a 7-year-old boy at the school after the backpack fell to the floor and discharged the gun shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, school officials told parents. The boy was grazed in the abdomen and was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital, where he reported in good condition on Tuesday.

"Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, and everyone is safe. CPD responded to our school quickly and confiscated the gun. We are working closely with the CPS Office of Safety and Security to make a safety plan moving forward,” school principal Paul Riskus said in a letter to parents.

The school principal said in the statement the school takes the situation "extremely seriously" and police are investigating.